Special Discussion: Seeker FAQ project

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[HeartShadow - Cutethulhu]

Yes yes yes, it's time for another project, now that the teen FAQ is all done!

So.  What do you think is most needed information for new people?  What are the questions we're all sick to death of answering, and yet people NEED answered and answered coherently?

I'd like to have the outline together by mid-November, given a choice, and start parceling out essays after that.  So here are some of the questions to get it started.  (I'll lump them into groups after I've got a bunch).

• What is Wicca/what isn't Wicca?
• I want to be Pagan, what do I do now?
• I believe in a god and a goddess, does that make me Pagan?
• Books that I should start with/books I should avoid/why?
• Is Satan involved anywhere in here?
• Is sex required anywhere in here?

I'm sure there's more in my brain, but this is what I've come up with to start.  Remember, we're brainstorming - feel free to toss it out there!

[Dark Midnight]

So.  What do you think is most needed information for new people?  What are the questions we're all sick to death of answering, and yet people NEED answered and answered coherently?

The question that my coven got asked most often was 'so what is a pagan exactly?'. I always found it to be the most difficult one to answer as IMO there is no one answer to it.

I also find that the questions 'so where do Pagans/Witches go and what do they do?' and 'how do I find out about other people like me?' to be quite common too (over here at least).

I can probably think of more when I am a little less tired and my brain is more alive than right now. 

[Star]

So.  What do you think is most needed information for new people?  What are the questions we're all sick to death of answering, and yet people NEED answered and answered coherently?

Honestly, my biggie is #2 there, or variations on it.  "How do I find my religion?"  I think this is maybe the most common question we get here from new seekers.  Possibly also something about dream interpretation--"I had X dream last night, what does it mean?"  Um.  Maybe something about signs?  "I saw X, is it a sign from Deity Y?"

I did want to mention, though--I know we're doing a lot of suggesting the Teen FAQ to newcomers for info, so I wonder if there are parts of it that could be recycled for this?  Maybe modified slightly by the original authors, if they're willing, to accomodate a wider audience?  We should also probably put a mention of the Teen FAQ itself specifically in (like, for issues specific to teens, please see our Teen FAQ).

Also, I hereby volunteer to write at least one essay; I'll wait and see what the topics are before specifically volunteering.  But, er, not until after November.

[Star]

I also find that the questions 'so where do Pagans/Witches go and what do they do?' and 'how do I find out about other people like me?' to be quite common too (over here at least).

Oh, hey.  That reminds me--"Where can I find other people like me?", or "Are there any Pagans in X Location?"  (Easiest answer is to point them to WitchVox, but I'm guessing someone with some experience in this sort of thing could also write an essay about how to find local groups in various ways (i.e. not just through WitchVox), how to evaluate them to see if they are what you need, etc.)

[treekisser]

Agree with all of the above and would submit this topic proposal: 'How not to sound like an ass: the use of qualifying words, disclaimers, and informal and friendlier language in an increasingly globalized world'.

[HeartShadow - Cutethulhu]

Honestly, my biggie is #2 there, or variations on it.  "How do I find my religion?"  I think this is maybe the most common question we get here from new seekers.  Possibly also something about dream interpretation--"I had X dream last night, what does it mean?"  Um.  Maybe something about signs?  "I saw X, is it a sign from Deity Y?"

I did want to mention, though--I know we're doing a lot of suggesting the Teen FAQ to newcomers for info, so I wonder if there are parts of it that could be recycled for this?  Maybe modified slightly by the original authors, if they're willing, to accomodate a wider audience?  We should also probably put a mention of the Teen FAQ itself specifically in (like, for issues specific to teens, please see our Teen FAQ).

Also, I hereby volunteer to write at least one essay; I'll wait and see what the topics are before specifically volunteering.  But, er, not until after November.

Yeah, I should totally look through that and nick what I can.   Good idea.  (I mean, ask for the ability to re-use it and stuff.  yeah.  um .....)

as far as nothing until after November - I'm going on the assumption that November is just plain OUT for writing purposes.  I know better.

[Star]

as far as nothing until after November - I'm going on the assumption that November is just plain OUT for writing purposes.  I know better.

I thought you probably did, but thought I ought to throw it out there just to be safe, since there are so many of us NaNoing. 

[HeartShadow - Cutethulhu]

More thoughts!  (amazing - I have thoughts?)

What is divination for?  When is it appropriate?  What are runes/tarot/entrails/whatnot?

[Aisling]

I'm sure there's more in my brain, but this is what I've come up with to start.  Remember, we're brainstorming - feel free to toss it out there!

Some annoying yet oft asked questions:

• What religion should I choose? What path is right for me?
• Which God/Goddess do I follow?
• I think I've been thwapped!  What do I do?
• How do I tell my loved ones/friends about my new path?
• How can I come out of the broom closet?
• Do I have to have long hair? Worship the earth? Chant? (i.e., myths about "all pagans should...")
• Is black magic taboo?
• Can I use curses and hexes?
• Do I have to have a lot of stuff (tools, candles, etc.) to practice?
• Are there differences between New Age and Pagan?
• Does paganism involve sacrifices?
• What are the differences between being solitary and in a group?
• Do I have to practice magic if I'm a pagan?
• I want to use magic.  Where do I start?
• What's the difference between witch, Wiccan, and pagan?
• Do I have to follow a specific pantheon as a pagan?
• What should I look for in a pagan group?
• I can't find a local group, mentor, teacher.  What do I do?

That's it for now.  Depending on how badly NaNo fries my brain this year, I may be able to lend a hand with the actual essays.

[Star]

• I think I've been thwapped!  What do I do?

Also, "What does 'thwapped' mean?" and the ever-popular, "I haven't been thwapped!  Who do I worship/can I worship anyone/what's the deal?" and possibly "Why haven't I been thwapped?" (Although that one might fit in well with the definition of the word.)

[Nehet]

• Can I use curses and hexes?

On a semi-related note, perhaps an article for people who think they have been cursed?  Something that outlines basic techniques of self-defense and perhaps directs people to the protection spells in the grimoir, while also encouraging posters to take care of things on a mundane level instead of assuming it's a curse (For example..."I think a curse made me sick!"  Well, have you tried seeing a doctor?).   

[Star]

On a semi-related note, perhaps an article for people who think they have been cursed?  Something that outlines basic techniques of self-defense and perhaps directs people to the protection spells in the grimoir, while also encouraging posters to take care of things on a mundane level instead of assuming it's a curse (For example..."I think a curse made me sick!"  Well, have you tried seeing a doctor?).   

Yes.  This.  Please.

[Star]

Yes.  This.  Please.

On a related note, a set of magic questions:
- What is magic?  (...Okay, that one might not be as 101, but you know it's something a seeker will want to know.)
- Do I have to practice magic to be a pagan/Wiccan/etc.?, or, Do all pagans practice magic?  (Could go under Shadow's one about all-pagans-should.)
- Do you have any spells I could try to do X, Y, or Z?
- Is it OK to make up my own spells?  (And the logical follow-up, how do I do that?)
- What kind of things can I do with magic?  (Might fall under "what is magic".)

[Star]

On a related note, a set of magic questions:
- What is magic?  (...Okay, that one might not be as 101, but you know it's something a seeker will want to know.)
- Do I have to practice magic to be a pagan/Wiccan/etc.?, or, Do all pagans practice magic?  (Could go under Shadow's one about all-pagans-should.)
- Do you have any spells I could try to do X, Y, or Z?
- Is it OK to make up my own spells?  (And the logical follow-up, how do I do that?)
- What kind of things can I do with magic?  (Might fall under "what is magic".)

Oh, and tools.  What tools/spell ingredients/etc. do I need to do magic?

[Jenett]

Other ones I don't think I've seen yet:

- How do I find a group or teacher to work with? (this one came up already, but useful for the following)
- And if I find someone, how do I know they know what they're doing?
- Do I need a teacher, anyway?
- I sort of want to go to this local event, but I don't know what to expect. How do I find out?
- Is it okay to try doing ritual without any training or experience?
- Is this stuff safe? (the answer being 'maybe not, but here's what to pay attention to to make it safer')
- How do I figure out which book is right when they say different things?
- How do I decide what to read?
- I did this ritual, and since, I've been feeling buzzy and unsettled. What can I do about it?
- I think someone is doing unpleasant things to me energetically. What can I do about it?
- What do I do with offerings?
- I did a divination reading/had one done for me that suggests some really miserable things. Are they really going to happen?

And I definitely second the 'how to find people near me' and 'what to do if there aren't people near me' ones.

And I'll note that I'm happy to give permission to include my Critical Reading and Pagan Books (or, more usefully, maybe do a revision of it that's shorter and more concise) along with whatever else I volunteer to do.

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